Just now heard on the news that a five-year old girl was killed by two loose Pit Bulls in Waxhaw/Union County. Her grandmother was severely injured and is in the hospital. Both dogs were shot and killed by police.The owner had previously (around Christmas) been cited for letting his dogs run loose, and was ordered to contain them properly.They (news reporters) are still working on getting more detailed info about this tragedy.

WTF... this makes me so, so angry. I caught the news blurb in passing, and when I heard that a child had been killed by two dogs, my heart sank... I just knew it involved Pit Bulls before they even mentioned the breed.

Waxhaw/Union County is notorious for BYB when it comes to Pit Bulls. Dammit.

I know what you mean, it just makes my heart sink when I hear that kind of news. Hopefully the owners will be charged with manslaughter. I hate that the dogs are always at fault and we never hear about the irresponsible owner.

hugapitbull wrote:I know what you mean, it just makes my heart sink when I hear that kind of news. Hopefully the owners will be charged with manslaughter. I hate that the dogs are always at fault and we never hear about the irresponsible owner.

I think the dogs were loose in their own back yard, and the little girl tried to enter her neighbors yard, for whatever reason. Still... it's horrible and tragic, no matter why and how it happened.

As far as I understood it... the dogs were loose and found wandering around Christmas. The attack today happened in the owners back yard, and during the commotion one of the dogs got out and was later found wandering the neighborhood. He was then shot by police.The owner wasn't home when all this occured.

Ugh... correction:After investigating the incident further police determined that the little girl was in her own backyard when she was attacked. Her house is right next door to the Pit Bull owners home.The dogs were *supposed* to be chained, but had gotten out once again.

amazincc wrote:Ugh... correction:After investigating the incident further police determined that the little girl was in her own backyard when she was attacked. Her house is right next door to the Pit Bull owners home.The dogs were *supposed* to be chained, but had gotten out once again.

"I don't have any idea if my dogs respect me or not, but they're greedy and I have their stuff." -- Patty Ruzzo

"Dogs don't want to control people. They want to control their own lives." --John Bradshaw

Waxhaw, NC - Several news sources have reported on the tragic death of 5 yr-old Makayla Woodard on January 7. The young girl was attacked and killed in her own yard by 2 Pit bulls.

Her grandmother, Nancy Presson, 67, was also seriously injured in the attack while trying to protect her young grand-daughter.

Most news outlets covering this story have focused on just these facts - two vicious pit bulls attacked and killed. Leaving out the backstory.

One outlet, however, has shared the rest of the story. Information that explains much of what happened and information that people in positions of authority should take serious note of.

According to the Union County Weekly, the dogs involved in the attack were well known in the neighborhood. The female, a dog named Daisy, was so emaciated that she looked like she shouldn't be alive.

Several people reported seeing both dogs roaming the streets, unsupervised and searching for food. One person noted that the female looked as if she had recently had pups and that a tether was attached to her collar - in other words, she had been bred, left on a tie-out and from the looks of her body - starved.

Others reported that the dogs were "usually secured on a chain" but occassionally left out to roam. One neighbor had contacted animal control to let them know that the dogs were being neglected and that they should be removed from the owner's home. They were told that "animal control" could do nothing".

The dog's owner? A man named Michael Gordan. The 23 yr-old man had been released from prison last May after serving 10 months on felony charges including breaking and entering.

The basic components for a dangerous dog situation are all here. Irresponsible dog ownership by a negligent owner.

This is where the people in positions of authority need to pay attention. Animal abuse and negligence needs to be taken seriously. It's more than "just a dog" - by ignoring the suffering of dogs you are potentially contributing to a tragic situation such as that which happened to the innocent 5 yr-old girl last Wednesday.

Dogs that are starved, abused, and ignored can become aggessive and unstable. Slaps on the wrist or turning away from the problem gives that much more time that the dog will suffer and more opportunities for an attack situation to take place.

People fighting for Breed Specific Legislation - read this article again and read it carefully. You will find all of the elements that people against Breed Specific Legislation keep trying to make you understand.

It's about the owners, it is not about bad dogs. Look at who owns the majority of the dogs that are involved in bite situations. They are horrible owners - negligent, abusive, uncaring - they should not own dogs - period.

If you "want" a dog, only to stick him on the end of a chain in a backyard, you don't really "want" a dog. Put an old car in your yard instead. Something that isn't alive - breathing, feeling, suffering.

There are so many victims in this sad situation. A 5 yr-old child is dead. Her grandmother, wounded and grieving. Devastated parents, heart-broken neighbors.

Last but not least, the 2 dogs involved in the attack - undoubtedly euthanized for the horrible incident. Two dogs that "snapped" after enduring severe neglect - a sad, culmination of the bad ownership they experienced for too long.

For those individuals that work tirelessly to fight breed specific legislation, please forward this on to those people that you are trying to explain your standpoint to.

Pit bulls are vilified in society because so many of them are owned by pathetic excuses for owners. Pit bulls are villified in society because so many news outlets don't bother sharing the backstory to the "attack" situation.

Makayla didn't need to die. Perhaps if animal control agencies and law-makers will start to take animal abuse and neglect more seriously, her death won't be in vain.

Sooo sad...Between Tx & La.we hear about them type of attacks all the time...I always say,there are more bad owners then there are bad dogs/pitbulls..People dont take into consideration the way they house/treat these dogs will have a major affect on there attitudes/behavior..